Japan looks to promote electronic visas as inbound tourism recovers

In the first eight months of this year, some 15.19 million foreign tourists entered Japan, data from the Japan National Tourism Organization shows.

Central govt push more tourist while local govt complaining about over tourism, that's really nice collaboration.

https://www.euronews.com/travel/2023/09/13/overtourism-japans-iconic-mount-fuji-struggles-with-human-traffic-jams-rubbish-and-polluti

https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/kyoto-will-stop-selling-the-one-day-bus-pass-to-tackle-overtourism-040523

Some airport that accept international flight already congested, even rejecting certain flight that want to land.

https://www.businessinsider.nl/people-on-a-3-hour-flight-to-japan-ended-up-on-a-11-hour-roundtrip-ordeal-after-their-plane-circled-over-the-destination-airport-landed-in-another-city-then-missed-a-10-p-m-curfew/

When Japan streamlines something, it takes something relatively simple and turns it into something over complicated.

I really noticed the tourists this weekend. Now that they are here, Japan needs to figure out how to get them to spend their money in the countryside, instead of just piling on top of each other in the city.

Why do US citizens need to apply for a visa when most other Western nations do not?

You dont need to apply for a tourist visa when entering Japan with a US passport.

Be really nice to know what visas qualify for this electronic processing. Many of these countries already have "visa free" access to Japan for up to 90 days (renewable) for tourist or business purposes.

What happens if the phone is not connected or batteries down.

Paper is the best for that

@sakurasuki

Again you just give comments but you do not understand the total picture. What you is partly true but please try to do more research to understand instead of copying links.

@Albert

So what is your better understanding about overtourism that actually happened in Japan? It does happened and central govt just let it happen. Do you call that something that just don't happened?

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/10/f6b650f0e3dc-breaking-news-japan-pm-kishida-vows-to-revive-pandemic-hit-inbound-tourism-sector.html

For America, the Japanese only need online US ESTA and can stay for 90 days. United States passport holders planning a visit to Japan should apply online for a Japan eVisa before arrival in the country. They can stay 90 days.

American's get 90 days on arrival, no need to apply for a VISA.

Why do US citizens need to apply for a visa when most other Western nations do not?

Not sure about the specifics for Japan, but Americans have a harder time with visas because they themselves require most countries people to go through annoying visa procedures, so countries have to return the favor.

This is referring to visas other than than tourist visas. US passport holders don't need to apply for anything for entry to Japan. ESTA only gives you the right to present yourself at CBP. As with any country, finally entry is determined by the Immigration officer at point of entry.

theResidentToday  08:25 am JST

This is referring to visas other than than tourist visas.

No, this article specifically states that it is about inbound tourism. You cannot apply online any other visa type.

You don't need to apply for a short term tourist visa if your nation has a Visa Exemption Arrangement with Japan.

List of countries. https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/short/novisa.html

The 12 countries and regions are Brazil, Britain, Canada, Cambodia, China, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

This is simply wrong. US tourists don't need to apply for a visa to enter Japan. They are granted a tourist visa upon arrival. Kyodo needs better fact checkers.

Well, the ESTA annoyance for US entry before boarding by Japanese should be balanced with equal annoyance (JESTA) for Americans. It’s all about equity, right?

Roy - Other than filling out an entry card they don't have to 'apply' for anything in advance. Its called visa-waiver. They have a tourist permit - NOT a Visa. I'm a UK Citizen, If I go to the USA, I travel under the visa-waiver programme and always have done so. ESTA was introduced as pre-approval to present yourself at immigration.

The EU will be starting this year also, as will the UK.

The Visa Waiver remains.

If I understand, does it remove the fact to fill the tourist card you have to fill during fligth before entering Japan ?

If so, than it is an omprovement.

You still have I assume to fill the customs card to show when entering.

Some additional details could do great.

We are all taking bets you'll be deported by noon.

This story is very misleading, as British, Canadians, and Americans do not need a VISA for 90 days or less for tourism.

Great. While the rest of the developed world has already been doing this for years, Japan, who used to be a developed nation, is finally getting on board. Send your fax to the following number to apply! .........

People need to be careful when using the e-visa. It can't be used for visiting friends or relatives.

Chinese edgelord is always just before lunchtime.

About time - Japanese customs is interminable.

what 'e-visa' are you talking about @wallace?

obladi

I really noticed the tourists this weekend. Now that they are here, Japan needs to figure out how to get them to spend their money in the countryside, instead of just piling on top of each other in the city.

Yeah, I agree. I have visited Japan many times, the cities are great, but I tend to go to the Japanese local areas and countryside rather than the hot foreign tourist spots. People in the countryside are so friendly and nice and there is a lot of great things to see and experience.

In my opinion, Japan needs to market/advertise with website and articles some of the great less known tourist spots in the countryside, but also guidance on how to get there. Most of the website and articles are just on the most popular tourist spots in Japan.

Visiting friends or relatives from a country that has a visa waiver agreement with Japan, wouldn't need ANY visa . A temporary visitor permit would just be affixed to your passport.

....that counts as tourism. My family, my friends and those of many of my colleagues have entered Japan like this literally hundreds of times without any hint of a lie to immigration. My Mother visited many times has visited many times.

The Japanese e-visa

Visa waiver just mean s you get the visa on entry. 90 day stamp.

wallaceToday  12:36 pm JST

People need to be careful when using the e-visa. It can't be used for visiting friends or relatives.

Than what did this comment mean? And incorrect, visa-waiver means exactly that. No Visa.

A 'visa' is required when a visa waiver is not applicable for entry to a certain country. All a 'visa' entitles you to is to board a plane and present yourself at Immigration for a Border Guard to approve your entry and officially approve your status rendering the visa valid.

Procedures such as ESTA, ETIAS, K-ETA, etc. are just pre-approval to board a plane and present yourself to immigration when travelling from a country that allows visa waiver entry. I suspect it won't be long that Japan will have a similar process.

What Japan are proposing is for those that DO require Visas, to apply online. For example tourists' from countries that do qualify for visa waiver or for those coming for short term work. A perfect example of this is when a foreign musician comes here to perform - they do in fact need to visa. As does their entire crew.

*do not qualify - to correct myself

I have noted that many people raised the issue of overtourism. Since the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is interested in reducing its workload only, I am afraid that the situation would get worse by expanding e-visa system. The national policy on tourism is needed to address both promotion and "control". Scenes of the crowded climb route to the top of Mt. Fuji and streets of Kyoto kill my appetite for visiting these places. Alas....

No link in the article. And as a Canadian coming to visit in about ten days for the month of October, I don't need to apply online. Pretty dumb article.

Just another way to charge a fee of about ¥3,000

@TrevorPeace: No you don't, as you don't need a visa.

@wallace: Japanese Visas are not free. They all carry a charge as does any country. Have you ever looked at the prices for those that need a UK Visa? Or what the US charge?

Everytime I renewed my Visa when I was still on a working visa, it cost money (revenue stamps actually here)

You will have paid for your first Visa, whether it was spousal or otherwise.

Temporary stay permits (tourists) have always been free, and until Japan adopt an ESTA or ETIAS type system they will remain free.

If any of us on a non EU passport wish to visit the EU from next year we will have to pay the ETIAS fee.

The UK is introducing similar too.

I'm sure you have several passports being rue worldly man you are, but I'm pretty sure your wife doesn't.

Have you ever investigated what it would cost to take her to LIVE in the UK these days should you ever wish to do that.

You still haven't answered me about your definition of an e-visa and not using it to visit friends and family.

I'm not entirely sure you totally understand what a Visa for a country overseas is.

This article is kind of ambiguous with the issue of visas that require online applying. On one hand, by commentators, Americans don’t need to apply online, only to get a tourist visa upon entry. On the other hand, there is the visa online application before coming to Japan. Which is it?

Japan could drop the visa waiver and require tourists to use the e-visa. They want the online info about visitors.

There is a contradiction on the government website.

69 countries have visa waivers for tourists so who is the e-visa for?

https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/visaonline.html

I was surprised to learn that a Japanese tourist visa or this e-visa is not used when visiting friends or family. Other countries have the same requirements.

Would be a good idea to keep the mainland Chinese away. The Taiwanese are fine.

Can they just do something about the hour-long queue at immigration?

Would be a good idea to keep the mainland Chinese away. The Taiwanese are fine.

China's tourism is very important for Japan's economy...

Can they just do something about the hour-long queue at immigration?

Come earlier to your immigration appointment.

lol